Windows 7 lucky for most

BY CLAIRE MCENTEE

Last updated 05:00 09/11/2009

Reuters

UPGRADE ME: A Microsoft employee demonstrates the Windows 7 operating system.

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Retailers are reporting a bumper debut for Windows 7, but not all have found the switch to the software a breeze.

Microsoft launched the operating system on October 22 hoping to dispel the bad buzz surrounding Vista – Windows 7's resource-hungry predecessor.

PC World editor Ted Gibbons says Windows 7 users have found it is faster and more user and computer-friendly than Vista.

"It doesn't want to use up your whole computer's guts."

But some users have horror stories about upgrading their computers to the system.

Microsoft's upgrade programme lets people who buy or have bought Vista PCs or software since June upgrade to Windows 7 free or for a low cost.

Those attempting to upgrade their computers without wiping their hard drives have found the process can take up to a day to complete, Gibbons says.

"If you've got a PC with a lot of applications and a lot of data on it, and particularly if you've got everything on the same hard drive ... that can take literally hours and hours. Some people have utterly failed to do it. I got a letter from one woman who had tried three times."

By contrast, "clean" installs – when all existing data and applications are wiped – should take only about half an hour, he says.

Microsoft has said some upgrades could take more than 20 hours to complete, depending on the computer's contents.

Manufacturers have released a swag of Windows 7 computers – mostly in the notebook space, Gibbons says.

"Notebooks traditionally have been a bit dogged by previous operating systems. Windows 7 runs much better on notebooks." New computers are always priced higher, "but I don't think anyone is charging a premium on the basis that they're running Windows 7. Every manufacturer now has to go to Windows 7", he says.

Noel Leeming Group merchandise general manager Jason Bell says PC sales have been strong all year and remained steady following Windows 7's arrival.

The group's Windows 7 computers are selling for $700 to $5000, similar to its last range of PCs.

Sales of Windows 7 software are within expectations.

"A lot of early adopters already had a beta release so we're expecting another lift when that beta version expires next year."

The group – which includes retailer Bond and Bond – expected sales of Vista PCs to ease but this had not happened. "They're still selling well – the upgrade option is available for some time."

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Harvey Norman national business manager Matt Rummel says the retailer had its two biggest weekends of PC hardware sales for the year following the Winows 7 launch.

Customers have splashed out on mid to upper-range desktop PCs and notebooks, rather than the cheaper models, and Harvey Norman had sold out of its Windows 7 software packs.

"Our stores are saying customers were really holding off in the last couple of weeks waiting for the Windows 7 release."

Sales of Vista PCs have "absolutely dropped off", despite Microsoft's upgrade offer, he says.

Harvey Norman is pretty light on Vista stock, but will "sell them at a price that moves them", he says.

Customers generally seem to be aware of the new operating system, he says. "They know that it's new and they know Vista wasn't very good. They've heard through word of mouth that it's easy to use and much faster."

- © Fairfax NZ News